Mendoza travel guide
Mendoza Tourism | Mendoza Guide
You're Going to Love Mendoza
Situated at the heart of Argentina's wine country, Mendoza is a prosperous, vibrant city which pairs Art Deco architecture and leafy streets with excellent nightlife and a host of outdoor activities to enjoy in the nearby mountains. It's a real vintage destination.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Mendoza
1. Wine
Above all else, Mendoza is famous for its wines (it produces two thirds of the Argentine crop), with rich Malbec's to the fore. Hop between vineyards or stick to city center wineries, and pick your favorite.
2. Great Art Museums
Mendoza is achingly cosmopolitan, with a superb Municipal Museum of Art, the Museo Casa de Fader and regular international exhibitions at the Espacio Contemporáneo del Arte.
3. Fine Food and Lively Nightlife
Wood-fired grills serve up locally reared meat at restaurants like Azafran, while the bars on Avenida Villanueva Aristides keep buzzing until dawn.
4. Wonderful Architecture and Parks
Mendoza is also just a pleasure to explore. See beautifully landscaped parks like the Parque San Martin, skip between elegant squares with burbling fountains and marvel at attractions like the Basílica de San Francisco.
5. Fabulous Outdoor Activities
Using Mendoza as a base, you can scale Aconcagua, take bike tours of wine country, go rafting on the Mendoza River, try horseback riding in the Andes and even spend a day shadowing a gaucho as they go about their business.
What to do in Mendoza
1. Highest Peak In The Americas
Aconcagua is the highest mountain located outside of the Himalayas and provides many hiking and climbing opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Most hotels provide some form of tour of the mountain, taking into account the safest routes, most scenic vistas, and the changeable weather. Alternatively, you can catch the local Buttini bus and take the short self-guided tour to one of the best vistas on the mountain with just a 45 minute hike. Whatever you choose, Aconcagua is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip to Mendoza.
2. The Ultimate Wine Tour
If you've never tasted wine straight from the barrel, this is your place to do so! Tierras Atlas winery specializes in Malbec and Cabernet wines and has been working this vineyard for many generations. On the guided tour, you can take a stroll through the vineyards while your guide explains the meticulous process of how these grapes turn from fruit to one of the most popular wines in Argentina. Afterwards, grab some delicious empanadas from the attached bodega to round out your trip to Argentinian wine country.
3. Return To Your Natural Roots
Spend the afternoon strolling the many paths at Parque San Martin. Aside from the obvious green lawns of possibility that parks provide, Parque San Martin in the heart of downtown also offers a small zoo and science museum. There's an on-site restaurant which serves local Argentinian delicacies and overlooks the park's lake, a real incentive to stick around a little longer. Behind the zoo, follow the path up to Cerro de la Gloria for some stunning sunset views of the city and Andes mountains in the distance.
4. Settle In For A Long Soak
Just one hour outside of Mendoza in Cacheuta lies a collection of heated outdoor pools famous throughout the region for their rejuvenating properties. Referred to locally as "Parque del Agua," this outdoor spa is popular with families and so can get rather busy on weekends. To get the most out of your peaceful soak, try visiting on weekdays or staying in the attached Termal Hotel for some quality time. Travel tip: bring some meat to cook on the many free grills and avoid the hefty price tag of prepared food around the pools.
5. An Elegant Glass In The Country
For an upscale winery experience, head over to Pulenta Estate Winery. This modern boutique vineyard is famous for its delicious Gran Cabernet Franc and friendly hosts, who make you feel welcome and relaxed as soon as you set foot in the door. Take a tour through the vineyards and wine cellar, then kick back in their tasting room for a nice wind-down lunch. All wine tours come paired with several local cheeses and pastes so you can get a sense of the local food culture. Not only are the wines top in their class, but the views of the Andes in the distance are pretty hard to beat as well.
1. Highest Peak In The Americas
Aconcagua is the highest mountain located outside of the Himalayas and provides many hiking and climbing opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Most hotels provide some form of tour of the mountain, taking into account the safest routes, most scenic vistas, and the changeable weather. Alternatively, you can catch the local Buttini bus and take the short self-guided tour to one of the best vistas on the mountain with just a 45 minute hike. Whatever you choose, Aconcagua is sure to be one of the highlights of your trip to Mendoza.
2. The Ultimate Wine Tour
If you've never tasted wine straight from the barrel, this is your place to do so! Tierras Atlas winery specializes in Malbec and Cabernet wines and has been working this vineyard for many generations. On the guided tour, you can take a stroll through the vineyards while your guide explains the meticulous process of how these grapes turn from fruit to one of the most popular wines in Argentina. Afterwards, grab some delicious empanadas from the attached bodega to round out your trip to Argentinian wine country.
3. Return To Your Natural Roots
Spend the afternoon strolling the many paths at Parque San Martin. Aside from the obvious green lawns of possibility that parks provide, Parque San Martin in the heart of downtown also offers a small zoo and science museum. There's an on-site restaurant which serves local Argentinian delicacies and overlooks the park's lake, a real incentive to stick around a little longer. Behind the zoo, follow the path up to Cerro de la Gloria for some stunning sunset views of the city and Andes mountains in the distance.
4. Settle In For A Long Soak
Just one hour outside of Mendoza in Cacheuta lies a collection of heated outdoor pools famous throughout the region for their rejuvenating properties. Referred to locally as "Parque del Agua," this outdoor spa is popular with families and so can get rather busy on weekends. To get the most out of your peaceful soak, try visiting on weekdays or staying in the attached Termal Hotel for some quality time. Travel tip: bring some meat to cook on the many free grills and avoid the hefty price tag of prepared food around the pools.
5. An Elegant Glass In The Country
For an upscale winery experience, head over to Pulenta Estate Winery. This modern boutique vineyard is famous for its delicious Gran Cabernet Franc and friendly hosts, who make you feel welcome and relaxed as soon as you set foot in the door. Take a tour through the vineyards and wine cellar, then kick back in their tasting room for a nice wind-down lunch. All wine tours come paired with several local cheeses and pastes so you can get a sense of the local food culture. Not only are the wines top in their class, but the views of the Andes in the distance are pretty hard to beat as well.
Where to Eat in Mendoza
Mendoza's dining scene is almost on a level with its wine. Grilled meats (asado) are a specialty, and highlights include Azafran, La Nilda and Nadia O.F. Expect to pay around ARS200 for an exceptionally good steak.
When to visit Mendoza
Mendoza is at its best between October and April (the southern hemisphere summer). Try April and May for mild weather, spectacular colors and far shorter queues at the wine bars.
How to Get to Mendoza
Plane
El Plumerillo Airport offers connections to Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile. From there, a taxi will cost around ARS90.
Train
Mendoza doesn't have an intercity rail connection, but the 8 mile long Metrotranvía line connects the city center to nearby Maipu.
Car
From Buenos Aires, follow highway 7 all the way across Argentina to Mendoza. Take highway 20 from Cordoba and highway 7 across the Andes from Santiago.
Bus
Buses run into Mendoza's bus terminal (which is around a mile out of town) from Buenos Aires, Santiago, San Martin, Cordoba and plenty of other regional cities.
Airlines serving Mendoza
Where to stay in Mendoza
Plaza Independencia – the center of Mendoza, Plaza Independencia is a good starting point for a walking tour and is close to almost all of the best hotels.
Popular Neighborhoods in Mendoza
Avenida Villanueva Aristides – Aristides is a major street in the southern part of central Mendoza, which hosts wineries like Bodega Atamisque and is the city's dining hub.
Godoy Cruz – Almost a separate city, Godoy Cruz is a huge southern suburb which hosts malls like Palmares and is a great place to base yourself.
Where to stay in popular areas of Mendoza
Most booked hotels in Mendoza
How to Get Around Mendoza
Public Transportation
To use the buses, you'll need a Red Bus Card which costs ARS5. After that, each journey costs ARS4.
Taxi
Expect small hops between the city's attractions to cost between ARS20 and ARS40.
Car
Renting a car is essential to see all of the local wineries. Outlets include Hertz and Express Car, and rates can be as low as ARS100 per day.
The Cost of Living in Mendoza
Shopping Streets
Most of the city's boutiques are clustered around Av San Martin and include dress stores like Almendra and apparel vendors like Kosiuko. If you want to stock up on wine, try Dos Puntos Vinoteca or Peatonal.
Groceries and Other
Mendoza's supermarkets include Super Murciana and Super A. Expect to pay around ARS30 for 12 eggs.